The packs outcast Luna (Kaia and Theo) novel Chapter 12

Chapter 012

I stirred when soft footsteps entered the room.

A young woman – barely twenty carried a tray with steaming broth and bread.

When I raised my head to see, she looked as young as me. Maybe a little younger than I am.

Her scent was faintly sweet, gentle. Not threatening.

“You’re awake,” the maid said quickly, eyes downcast. “Alpha Theo said you should eat something light. The healer, Seira made it”

“Thank you,” I murmured, sitting up slowly.

The motion still hurt, but I refused to let it show.

I shouldn’t let something so small pull me down.

The maid hesitated, fingers gripping the tray. “I’m Maliya. I’ll be your attendant… for now.”

My breath caught and I paused.

For now.

What does she mean by that?

I didn’t plan to stay here permanently anyway. But still,I was caught off guard.

She gave a faint smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Maliya,” she repeated.

“Why does everyone here look at me like I’ve committed murders without knowing?” I asked,tired.

Maliya flinched. “My lady, I–I shouldn’t say-”

“Don’t call me lady,” I said quietly. “Just tell me the truth.”

The girl swallowed, torn between fear and honesty.

“They say you came out of the wilds half–dead, covered in rogue blood. That the rogues followed you here. That you’re cursed.”

“Cursed,” I echoed softly.

Maliya nodded. “And that the Alpha nearly died because of you. Some say you brought death into the Pack lands.”

My lips tightened. “Did you believe that?”

Maliya’s gaze darted up, trembling. “No. You don’t smell like death. Alpha said you saved his life. We should be grateful to you instead”

The answer was innocent, but it struck something deep in my heart.

For years, I’d been told that I didn’t deserve to be Luna–that I reeked of sin, of a wolf I didn’t have.

A cursed orphan.

Raised by an elderly grandmother. Alone.

Somehow. I rose to the top. To everyone’s surprise and others dismay.

I forced a brittle smile. “You’re brave, Maliya. Keep that. You’ll need it here.”

The girl blinked, confused. “Why?”

“Because kindness,” I said, looking toward the dark corridor outside, “is the first thing people try to kill when power gets involved.”

Mayliya nodded. Then,she asked. “They weren’t able to kill yours, did they?”

I raised a brow. Confused. “What do you mean?”

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Chapter 012

Maliya pointed out. “I can feel your kindness. It is still there. That’s why you saved the Alpha without thinking of your safety first”

I didn’t say anything. Not sure what to say.

Saving others has always got me in trouble but somehow I can’t stop myself.

Especially when I looked into Alpha Theo’s gray eyes.

He needed saving. I’m glad I could do something to help.

The Silvermoon Pack took everything from me.

Maybe the only thing they didn’t take away was my humanity.

“I will get the doctor for you.” Maliya said, breaking my daze.” Please eat something”

Maliya left.

Leaving me to my raging thoughts and the hot broth she brought.

Maybe I really do need to eat something.

Something hot.

~~Theo’s POV~~

The big chamber hall of Shadowclaw Pack was colder than usual.

I stood at the head of the long obsidian table, flanked by my Beta, Gamma, Delta, Marcus, and three Council Elders People old enough to remember my father’s reign and bitter enough to compare.

Elder Corwin’s voice was the first to cut through the silence.

“A stray wolf. Brought into the fortress by the Alpha himself.” His tone was sharp, disbelieving. “What were you thinking, Ashford?”

I folded my arms. “I was thinking about saving a life.”

Elder Daisy leaned forward, eyes like flint. “We have rules for a reason. Strays bring danger. Disease. Deception. You know that.”

“She isn’t a stray,” I said evenly.

“Then what is she?” Corwin demanded.

―

“Because every healer in this pack claims she carries no scent – no wolf. For all we know, she could be a spy from the enemy Packs.”

This made my jaw tighten. In pure annoyance

I remembered the assassin’s blade, the venom, the fear in Kaia’s eyes when she was almost slain to death.

She’d said nothing, but her silence spoke of something buried deep.

She’s a victim. Just like us.

Elder Marcus finally broke the silence, voice cautious.

“Alpha… the Elders aren’t wrong. Bringing her here without trial or scan–it sets a precedent. The men are restless. They fear you’ve been bewitched.”

My gaze snapped toward him. “Do I look bewitched to you?”

Marcus didn’t flinch. “You look like a man who forgot the cost of mercy.”

I stepped closer to the table, every inch of me radiating authority. Something I didn’t intend to show off.

But. Their words were stirring up something I didn’t like.

“She saved my life. That’s not mercy. That’s loyalty – something this council seems to have forgotten.” I replied, eyes blazing.

Elder Daisy’s lips pressed thin. “And when that loyalty turns to betrayal?”

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“Then I’ll deal with it.”

“After she’s already inside your walls?”

My patience cracked. “Enough.”

The air in the hall shifted – heavy with my Alpha dominance, pressing down until Elder Corwin’s hands trembled.

“You forget yourselves,” I growled. “My pack is safe. My word stands.”

They shifted uncomfortably.

I turned away to look out the window.

“I won’t let anything happen to the people under my watch. This is my pack.”

When the meeting adjourned, Marcus followed me out into the corridor.

“You just made enemies in there,” he said quietly.

I didn’t slow my stride. “They’ve always been enemies. They just wear better clothes now.”

Marcus muttered. “She’s changing you.”

I stopped. “Maybe I needed changing.”

Marcus sighed, glancing back toward the council chamber. “Just remember, Theo – wolves fear what they don’t understand. And she’s an enigma wrapped in blood and silence. That kind of thing doesn’t end well.”

My voice was low. “Maybe not. But I’m not about to let the Council decide who deserves saving.”

Marcus left. Returning to the other council members.

I took a long breath.

Looking at the hallway. I saw my beta, walking up to me.

“Alpha Theo,there’s something you have to see,” he reported.

“Let’s go,”

Outside, a scout came up to us with a report file in his hand.

“Alpha… the men who attacked her carried no marks, but they had orders. Someone wants that girl dead.”

My eyes drifted back toward the chambers where Kaia is staying.

“Then we find out why.”

“Right away, Alpha,” The scout said.

We watched the scout leave in a hurry.

“Isn’t this reason enough for you to let her go? Kaia is bad news, Theo” Beta Zane muttered.

“Alpha Theo,” I growled, teeth gritted.

“I’m sorry Alpha Theo,” Zane lowered his head,remorseful.“I’m just concerned”

Coldly. I said.

“Leave that to me to deal with,Zane. Do your job and I will do mine”

Nodding, Beta Zane said.“I will keep that in mind moving forward. But, you’re still my friend at the end of the

day. I’m just watching out for you”

My rang out, colder than I intended.

“And I’m watching out for Kaia.”

“You’re breaking too many rules already. Can’t you see?” Beta Zane asked, calmly.

“I told you. Let me worry about it. Do your job as Beta”

Zane didn’t say anything else. He left.

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I shouldn’t have been so harsh with him.

I know he means well but I can’t let Kaia go. Not in this situation.

She’s my responsibility now. I don’t mind breaking rules and protocols for her.

Leave the consequences to me.

After the council meeting. I decided to go see Kaia again.

They’d doubt her intentions

They think she’s bad news but I can’t help the throb in my chest.

The thought of letting her go scares me.

The image that refused to leave my mind wasn’t the Council’s sneers – it was Kaia’s face the night I’d bumped into her at the old cottage.

She was bleeding. Dying.

I found myself standing outside her door before I realised how fast I got here.

The door creaked open.

Kaia sat on the window ledge, wrapped in a thin shawl, moonlight spilling over her hair.

–

She didn’t turn at first. Her gaze was fixed on the dark courtyard beyond the glass – where wolves trained, laughed, lived freely.

She seemed fascinated.

I cleared my throat softly. “You’ll catch a cold. Kaia.”

Her voice came quiet, detached. “I’m already cold, Alpha.”

I stepped closer.

“You shouldn’t be out of bed.”

“I can’t sleep,” she said. Her tone wasn’t defiant. Just tired. “Everyone looks at me like I don’t belong. Maybe they’re right.”

I exhaled, leaning against the wall beside her. “They’re afraid of what they don’t understand. That’s all.”

She gave a brittle smile. “And you? Do you understand me?”

I didn’t answer – not immediately.

Instead, I noticed the fresh bandage wrapped around her wrist, darkened where blood had seeped through.

“You’re bleeding again.”

I knelt in front of her, removing the bandages.

Dabbing the wound with my sleeves carefully. Afraid, it hurts.

Kaia’s breath hitched. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I know.” My voice dropped, steady. “But I want to.”

For a long, suspended moment, we stayed that way -Our breaths caught, staring at each other.

Kaia broke the quiet first. “Why did you bring me here?”

I looked up at her then. For some reasons the question shifted something in my heart uncomfortably.

I could have said ‘Because I owe you my life.

I could have said ‘Because something in me won’t let you go.’

But all I said was, “Because no one should die alone.”

Her eyes glistened. Not tears, exactly, but something raw. Something almost like hope.

“If I stay,” she murmured, “I’ll only make things harder for you.”

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I rose slowly. “You let me worry about that.”

When I turned to leave, Kaia’s voice stopped me.

“Theo.”

I froze at the sound of my name.

Her eyes met mine; dark, storm–bright.

“Whatever they think I am… I’m not your enemy.”

My throat worked, but no words came.

Instead, I nodded once and left the room before I could betray more than I should.

Outside, the corridor was empty. But,I could swear, her voice rings in my ears.

Drawing me closer. Or maybe,I’m just hallucinating.

Kaia. Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you.

This is my promise to you.

An Alpha’s promise.

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